Under no circumstances will the construction of access ramps from the public road to lots, whose base or slope lies within the road right-of-way (derecho de vía), be permitted. The Municipality will seek to clear the canton's roads that have been encroached upon by works located within the road right-of-way.
THIRD SECTION PUBLIC SPACES, ROADWAY, AND TRANSPORT REGULATION
Importance of Transport
General Provisions Objectives. The design and adaptation of an efficient road system ensures the functionality of interrelationships within the canton, channeling motorized and pedestrian flows according to the travel needs and connections of people and cargo. This communication network will also consider minimizing nuisances to residents of neighborhoods and special sites, such as nursing homes, schools, and hospitals, to the greatest extent possible.
The objectives for regulating roadways and transport are:
- To achieve a direct relationship between the road system and the different land uses established in the Regulatory Plan, to improve mobility in each of the canton's zones.
- To integrate the different parts of the system efficiently and to harmonize the interests of all its users: pedestrians, public transport, private transport, etc.
- To prioritize roads (jerarquizar las vías) to contribute to such efficiency, respecting the rights of each of its users.
- To promote the economic development of the canton and activities related to the transport of people or goods.
Public roads, according to their function, shall be classified into the National Road Network (Red Vial Nacional) and the Cantonal Road Network (Red Vial Cantonal). It corresponds to the MOPT, according to the requirements of Article 3 of the General Public Roads Law and those determined by the Executive Branch in agreement with the Municipality of the canton of Grecia, to define the National Road Network via decree. The corresponding definitions are:
- NATIONAL ROAD NETWORK: Its administration corresponds to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, by way of decree. This network shall be constituted by the following classes of public roads:
- Primary Roads: Network of trunk routes, to serve corridors characterized by relatively high traffic volumes and a high proportion of international, interprovincial, or long-distance trips.
- Secondary Roads: Routes that connect important canton capitals not served by primary roads - as well as other centers of population, production, or tourism, that generate a considerable number of interregional or inter-cantonal trips.
- Tertiary Roads: Routes that serve as traffic collectors for primary and secondary roads, and that constitute the main roads for trips within a region, or between important districts.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport shall designate within the National Road Network restricted-access roads (carreteras de acceso restringido), on which the access or exit of vehicles is only permitted at specific intersections with other public roads. It shall also designate highways (autopistas), which shall be restricted-access roads with four or more lanes, with or without a central dividing island.
- CANTONAL ROAD NETWORK: Its administration corresponds to the municipalities. It shall be constituted by the following public roads, not included by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport within the National Road Network:
- Local roads (Caminos vecinales): Public roads that provide direct access to farms and other rural economic activities, connect populated hamlets with the National Road Network, and are characterized by low traffic volumes and high proportions of short-distance local trips.
- Local streets (Calles locales): Public roads included within the quadrant of an urban area, not classified as urban crossings of the National Road Network.
- Unclassified roads (Caminos no clasificados): Public roads not classified within the categories described above.
When land adjacent to an existing or planned restricted-access road is urbanized, the traffic specific to a development must be separated from that of said road by means of frontage roads (calles marginales).
These streets are to provide access to the properties and, therefore, it is the obligation of the developer (urbanizador) to provide the necessary land and construct the works required.
The interconnection between streets and restricted-access roads shall only be made at the sites and in the manner determined by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
In existing developments with more than 30 lots and only one access for vehicles, at least one additional access must be implemented.
This access must be located at a distance of no less than 60 meters from the existing one.
Road Rights-of-Way. The road rights-of-way officially indicated by the MOPT and the Municipality shall be conserved independently of the hierarchy established in this Regulatory Plan. Works not built and plans not registered as of this date must respect the new regulations.
New streets in developments or those built by the Municipality must respect the alignment of existing streets and those proposed by the Regulatory Plan of Grecia in this regulation.
Using the public road to increase the usable area of a property or building, both aerially and underground, is prohibited.
If, during the execution of a work, it is necessary to temporarily occupy a public road or access, both aerially and underground, a temporary road occupancy permit must be obtained from the Municipality of Grecia or the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, as appropriate.
Curb and gutter (Cordón y caño). The curb and gutter at street corners shall be designed in a circular form with a minimum radius of six meters. In the case of commercial zones or when there are acute street intersection angles at the corners (never less than sixty degrees), the radius shall be increased to a minimum of ten meters.
Roadside ditches (Cunetas). In urban areas, roadside ditches must be replaced by underground stormwater systems, such as sewer drains and gutters (caños), by which the roadway can be widened without affecting the road right-of-way or sidewalks.
Slopes. The maximum slope on streets perpendicular and parallel to the main street of non-consolidated centers shall be 15%, but in sections no longer than 75 meters, slopes of up to 20% may be allowed.
In paving works, the current specifications for paving roads of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Costa Rica must be followed, contained in the document entitled "General Specifications for the Construction of Roads, Highways, and Bridges" (Especificaciones Generales para la Construcción de Caminos, Carreteras y Puentes), latest edition.
Road Network and Transport Flow
Streets and Roads Every street built and opened within the limits of the canton of Grecia shall form part of the Cantonal Road Network, except when the Ministry of Public Works and Transport indicates otherwise.
Primary Roads Definition. These are those that interconnect the main national highways with the urban area and serve as a link between the city and the rest of the region and the canton. The primary road of the Canton is that which allows interaction between districts internally and externally with the cantons neighboring the urban area.
Road Right-of-Way. They shall have a road right-of-way of fifty meters, as observed on the Road Map and stipulated by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. The primary road of the canton is the section of the Bernardo Soto Highway.
Lanes and sidewalks. It shall have four lanes of three meters and seventy-five centimeters each and two frontage roads (calles marginales). Each frontage road shall have two lanes of three meters and fifty centimeters each. In addition, a green zone strip of 0.70 centimeters must be established separating the frontage road from the main road. The sidewalk, located at the other end of the frontage road, shall be two meters wide, with an additional green area of three meters.
Signage. Traffic signage, public telephones, lighting, sewer system, and electrical installations must be placed in the green zones; the latter are recommended to be underground.
Passage Restrictions. Vehicle passage restrictions on the road shall depend on current legislation and the stipulations of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. Regarding frontage roads, the passage of heavy and hazardous vehicles is restricted, but not public transport vehicles.
Public Transport Stops. The establishment of stops on this type of road is prohibited. The location of bus bays may only be established on the frontage roads and shall be solely for internal routes of the canton. To serve public transport traveling along this road to other parts of the country, bus terminals must be built, whose accesses and interaction with the main road must be approved by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
Speed. They shall constitute the highest-speed urban roads in the canton, ranging between sixty and eighty kilometers per hour, a design speed to be used for calculating the technical characteristics of the roads. If design conditions warrant a speed reduction, this must be stipulated by means of signage.
Secondary Roads Definition. These are those that serve as links between the main urban centers of the canton and connect to the primary road, as well as the alternative inter-cantonal routes that currently exist. There are two types of secondary roads:
First-Order Access Roads. These roads correspond to the highest-traffic entries from the primary roads to the main cities. In this case, they correspond to those connecting the Bernardo Soto highway and the city of Grecia. The objective of these roads is to provide a higher level of service, handle significant traffic volumes, and have restricted connections to other roads.
Second-Order Access Roads. These roads correspond to the alternate entries to the canton, where the traffic volume is lower than on first-order roads. The road layout may restrict the level of service, and they have no connection restrictions with other roads.
Road Right-of-Way. First-order roads shall have a road right-of-way of thirty-two meters, while second-order roads shall have a road right-of-way of twenty-seven meters.
Lanes and sidewalks. These roads shall have four lanes of three meters and sixty-five centimeters each. For first-order roads, there shall be an island in the center that can be used for turns, which shall have a width of five meters. Sidewalks shall be two and a half meters wide. The rest of the road right-of-way shall be used for green zones, where a seventy-centimeter green zone must be allocated between the sidewalk and the street.
Signage. Traffic signage, public telephones, lighting, sewer system, and electrical installations must be placed in the green zones; the latter are recommended to be underground.
Passage Restrictions. There are no vehicle passage restrictions on the first-order road. Regarding second-order roads, only the passage of hazardous vehicles is restricted.
Public Transport Stops. For the establishment of Public Transport Stops, the design of bus bays must be defined.
Booths that do not meet the conditions of a bay shall not be permitted.
Speeds. These roads shall have speeds ranging between fifty and sixty kilometers per hour, a design speed to be used for calculating the technical characteristics of the roads.
If design conditions warrant a speed reduction, this must be stipulated by means of signage.
Tertiary Roads Definition. These are those that serve as traffic collectors for primary and secondary roads, as well as links between second-order urban centers (district capitals). In some cases, they allow interconnection between secondary roads, or function as alternate routes to these. There are two types of tertiary roads:
First-Order Interconnection. First-order tertiary roads connect canton capitals to important communities or to secondary roads.
Second-Order Interconnection. These roads connect communities to each other, or are used to alternately connect two secondary roads.
Road Right-of-Way. The road right-of-way for first-order roads is 21 meters and for second-order roads is 18 meters.
Lanes and sidewalks. First-order roads shall have three lanes. Two of them shall be three meters and sixty-five centimeters wide and the central one shall be three meters and seventy centimeters wide. Sidewalks shall be a minimum of 1.5 m wide, with the rest of the road right-of-way remaining as a green zone, where a fifty-centimeter green zone must be allocated between the sidewalk and the street. In the case of second-order streets, these shall have only two lanes of four meters each; the rest of the dimensions remain the same.
Signage. Traffic signage, public telephones, lighting, sewer system, and electrical installations must be placed in the green zones; the latter are recommended to be underground.
Passage Restrictions. These roads are restricted to the passage of hazardous vehicles, but not to the passage of heavy vehicles.
Public Transport Stops. For the establishment of Public Transport Stops, the design of bus bays must be defined.
Booths that do not meet the conditions of a bay shall not be permitted.
Speeds. On these roads, the design speed shall range between thirty and forty kilometers per hour.
Local Roads Definition. These are those roads that serve to channel traffic between different urban activities and define the road structure of urban centers.
Road Right-of-Way. They shall have a road right-of-way between sixteen meters and fourteen meters. For those streets located in zones with restricted development, this shall be fourteen meters. The restricted development zones are: Agroforestry Zone, Agricultural and Conditioned Development Zone, Grecia Forest Reserve, and Urban Recreational Park.
Lanes and sidewalks. They shall have two lanes of three meters and fifty centimeters each. Sidewalks shall be a minimum of 1.5 m wide.
The rest is a green zone, where fifty centimeters must be left between the street and the sidewalk.
Signage. Traffic signage, public telephones, lighting, sewer system, and electrical installations must be placed in the green zones; the latter are recommended to be underground.
Passage Restrictions. These roads are restricted to the passage of hazardous vehicles and the passage of heavy vehicles.
Speed. They shall be traffic-calmed roads with design speeds ranging between thirty and forty kilometers per hour.
Public Transport Objectives. Public transport is essential for the functioning of the city; its planning must allow for ordering the city, reducing road congestion, decreasing pollution, and stimulating its use by residents, reducing the need for private vehicle use.
Public transport must allow interaction between residential zones and the rest of the canton's economic activities; commerce, industry, and agro-industry.
For this purpose, the Municipality, in accordance with the provisions of the Road and Transport Map, shall enable those areas of public or private domain that appear reserved for such purpose. It shall stimulate the development of terminals, bays on the main roads (primary, secondary, and tertiary), and bus stops.
Public transport traffic must be restricted to certain roads in the center of Grecia to avoid congestion, establishing entry and exit routes for this type of vehicle.
Public Transport Terminals Definition. A public transport terminal is a physical space where transfers of people occur, at a point where the arrival of public transport vehicles heading to various routes is concentrated.
Public Transport Vehicles. In this type of terminal, buses, minibuses, and taxis must be allowed to be housed. Private cars must not be allowed to park in these facilities.
Location. Every public transport terminal must satisfy the following conditions:
It must give priority to pedestrian traffic, by eliminating conflicts between vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic, avoiding intersections between sidewalks and streets.
The geometric design must be spacious, taking into consideration future expansions or variations in vehicle dimensions and service demand.
The location of a terminal must take the following criteria into consideration:
- Proximity to demand generators in the center of Grecia.
- Feasibility of direct connection with other means of Transport or interconnection with other routes at the national level.
- Minimization of public transport costs for users.
- Minimization of impacts on regular traffic due to the concentration of public transport vehicles.
Accesses and turning radii. Every terminal must have at least one clearly differentiated entrance and exit. Each access must have at least one lane with a minimum width of six meters and fifty centimeters. The internal turning radius must be at least eight meters, to allow the entry of rigid buses up to twelve meters in length. If the entry of longer vehicles is required, the analysis determining the corresponding turning radius must be submitted; in any case, it may not be less than the stipulated eight meters.
Bus parking zones. Bus parking zones must contemplate adequate minimum dimensions, depending on the parking configuration as shown in the following table.
Table-Dimensions for parking rigid Public Transport vehicles up to twelve meters long
| Type of Parking Relative to Road Direction | Parallel | At a 45º Diagonal | Perpendicular |
|---|
| Length of One Space in meters | 32 | 12 | 12 |
| Possible Arrangements | 2 vehicles | 1 vehicle | 1 vehicle |
| Width of One Space in meters | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Width of Access Lane in meters | 4 | 8 | 14 |
| Parking Area in square meters | 88 | 135 | 140 |
Terminal services. Every terminal shall provide its users with quality services, and must therefore have at least public sanitary facilities, lighting, signage, adequate waiting conditions, and areas for administrative services. The number of sanitary facilities and their components shall conform to current legislation, as shall the materials to be used. Their design must be approved by the Ministry of Health, which shall ensure the minimum sanitary and hygienic conditions of the units. The design must incorporate services for disabled persons, as well as their access to the terminal services in general.
Minimum components of terminals. The terminal must have the following minimum facilities, anticipating its future expansion to achieve the multi-functionality that develops in this type of installation:
- Area for parking and maneuvering of public transport units according to the expected service volume.
- Platform (andén) or sidewalk areas for boarding according to the estimated number of passengers.
- Waiting area for passengers with the location of minimum services (information, sanitary facilities, benches, ticket sales, public telephones).
- Administrative area containing offices, archives, as well as rest areas for drivers.
- Taxi arrival and departure area.
- Area designated for commerce.
- Area for authorities and user security.
Number of platforms. To determine the number of platforms (andenes) required in a bus terminal, a demand study considering the following points must be submitted to the Municipality of Grecia for its analysis and approval:
- Arrival and departure times between units of the same route. - Number of passengers per unit.
- Future projections studying the terminal's capacity when varying departure times between users and/or increasing the number of units per route.
- If it is a terminal for long-distance trips, the analysis of luggage handling must be included and the areas designated for the boarding and disembarking of packages and luggage must be specified.
Design of platforms. The platforms for passenger boarding and alighting must protect people from the rain through the use of roofs or canopies. As a minimum, they must be elevated up to fifteen centimeters from the level of the roadway. For each vehicle served, a width of one meter and fifty centimeters must be allocated.
Waiting room. Routes with departure frequencies greater than 6 buses per hour do not require waiting rooms. For routes with lower departure frequencies, seating shall be provided at a minimum for the greater value of the following:
- 15% of the users expected to use the terminal in the quarter-hour of highest pedestrian traffic in the terminal.
- One third of the capacity of the transport vehicle.
Safety measures. Bus terminals must provide safety to their users. The general conditions of the property must be approved by the Ministry of Health and the National Insurance Institute (Instituto Nacional de Seguros).
Additionally, the building conditions must be inspected by the local fire station for its recognition and approval, as the local advisory body to the Municipality. These facilities must at least have:
- Emergency exits: clearly identified, with signage and emergency lights guiding users to the nearest exit. Doors must be panic-proof, opening outwards.
The maximum travel distance to a safety zone must be thirty meters.
- Evacuation times: The general conditions of the building must allow for its total evacuation in less than three minutes.
- Emergency lights: There must be emergency lights in all means of access, circulation, and staying areas. The lights must turn on automatically when the electrical power is suspended. Their operating period must be at least one and a half hours.
- Installation of extinguishers: Chemical powder extinguishers, type ABC, must be placed in circulation and staying areas, as well as on each platform. Additionally, personnel must be trained in their use and in managing an evacuation in case of emergency. The management of the premises must ensure the maintenance of this equipment and its recharging.
- Installation of CO2 detectors: Due to the presence of diesel vehicles in a potentially confined physical zone, CO2 meters must be installed in terminals to guarantee the air quality for people remaining in the facilities.
- Fire prevention provisions: The building materials must be fire-resistant for up to 1 hour for single-story buildings and 3 hours for taller ones. Fire suppression systems must be incorporated whose minimum flow rate is given by Q = 134 (A) ½.
Where Q is the flow rate in liters per minute and A is the total floor area of the building in square meters. In general, the system must be approved by the National Insurance Institute and the local Fire Department.
- Recommended standard: It is recommended to use the design specifications of the National Fire Protection Agency in its regulation 101.
Mandatory signage. Clearly visible and understandable signs shall be placed in corridors, stairways, and in any place that implies a change in the direction of movement, direction of exits to the exterior, danger zones, among others. The minimum signage shall be:
- Exits to the exterior placed on the upper frame of the doors and visible from prudent distances.
- Schedules: They shall be placed on the platforms and in the ticket sales area, indicating the destination, route, and schedule.
- Access to elevators, stairs, waiting rooms.
- Emergency exits and location of extinguishers and fire-fighting equipment.
Bays Definition. A Bay for public transport is a physical space, located parallel to the road, where temporary parking of public transport vehicles is permitted for the loading and unloading of passengers.
Objective. Its objective is to maintain safety conditions for passengers and avoid traffic congestion, or loss of the road's level of service.
Public transport vehicles. In this type of terminals, the temporary parking of buses, minibuses (busetas), and taxis must be permitted. Private cars shall not be permitted to park in these facilities.
Location. Bays shall be located on the marginal roads of primary roads, on secondary roads, and on tertiary roads, as bus stops. The location of bays on stretches of the same route less than one kilometer apart shall not be permitted.
Obligation. In commercial, industrial, institutional, and agro-industrial zones, the location of bays shall be mandatory for facilities or buildings that have a daily influx of 200 or more visitors per day. As long as another bay does not exist within less than one kilometer on the main route.
Design. For the design of bays, parking for at least one rigid bus twelve meters long must be provided. The minimum dimensions are as follows:
(NOTE FROM SINALEVI: See design in Scope No. 37 to Gazette No. 116 of June 16, 2006, p. 21) The design of the shelters is presented in the following chapter corresponding to bus stops.
Bus Stops Definition. A bus stop is a physical space, located parallel to the road, where temporary parking of buses is permitted for the loading and unloading of passengers. The temporary parking of the vehicle generates a temporary obstruction of the road, therefore its location is restricted.
Objective. Its objective is to serve communities, neighborhoods, and residential zones where the volume of people is medium or low. For the transport of significant volumes of vehicles, the construction of bays or terminals is required, as appropriate.
Public transport vehicles. In this type of terminals, the temporary parking of buses and minibuses (busetas) must be permitted. Private cars and taxis shall not be permitted to park in these facilities.
Location. Bus stops shall be located on local roads.
The location of stops on stretches of the same route less than half a kilometer apart shall not be permitted. The location of stops must be at least thirty meters from any corner or road intersection, to avoid congestion at intersections and risk factors for incidents or accidents. Furthermore, they may not be located in zones designated for the loading and unloading of goods, nor directly at the entrance of institutions such as health or education centers.
Shelters. Shelters shall be designed to protect people from rain and wind. They shall be built with lightweight and waterproof materials, must be anchored and founded to prevent damage from strong winds. The interior must contain at least one bench for waiting people and must have some type of artificial lighting for safety during nighttime hours. They must be well ventilated and must be easy to clean.
Parking and Parking Restrictions Types of parking. The following types of parking are distinguished:
- Public parking facilities (estacionamientos públicos): Those open to any driver; a municipal license is required for their operation.
- Private parking facilities (estacionamientos privados): Those for the exclusive use of certain establishments or institutions, for their customers or employees.
System classification: For the purposes of this Regulation, the following system classification shall be used:
- Parking zones: Those public or private places, whether in buildings or on lots, enclosed or covered, that are used for parking vehicles. This category also includes bus terminals, parking lots for heavy vehicles or special equipment, taxi garages, and private garages of dwellings.
- On-street parking (estacionamiento en la vía pública): The temporary or prolonged parking of vehicles on the roadway; this can occur in various configurations, whether parallel to the road, perpendicular to it, or at an angle relative to the street alignment.
- Perpendicular on-site parking (estacionamiento perpendicular dentro de la propiedad): That which is done to meet the parking needs of a premises, but which has access to all or several parking spaces directly from the public road and in which the orientation of these spaces is perpendicular to the road; in addition, the simultaneous entry and exit of cars and vehicles to the public road is possible, provided there is a separation of at least one meter between the parking limit and the public road (islands, strips, tree-lined areas, fences, or some other type of barrier) and whose access is limited by a single entry lane (one-way or two-way) that complies with the regulations established in this title for its maximum and minimum dimensions.
Use coverage in parking zones. Parking zones may cover up to 90% of the usable land. The remaining 10% of surface area shall be used for gardens. Hedges or plant screens may be included. Only in underground parking facilities may there be 100% coverage.
Prohibition of the use of sidewalks. Sidewalks may not be used as parking areas. Therefore, the use of separation barriers no higher than sixty centimeters is permitted, and they must be interrupted at least 20 meters before intersections.
Use prohibitions. In mixed-use buildings, the garage or carport (cochera) may not serve as the sole access to premises intended for the lodging of persons.
Parking for Light Vehicles Parking restrictions. Light vehicles shall have on-street parking restrictions in the following places:
- Zones with parking tickets: In on-street parking zones with tickets, the corresponding ticket must be left in a visible place in the vehicle; tickets permit prolonged parking of the vehicle in the sector.
- Goods loading and unloading zones: On-street parking is prohibited in commercial zones, defined as a goods loading and unloading zone, when it is not carried out for these purposes.
- Bus stops: On-street parking is prohibited in zones where buses stop for the loading and unloading of people.
- Entrance to establishments: Parking is prohibited in accesses to parking zones or in accesses to private garages. Likewise, parking on sidewalks is prohibited.
- Yellow zones: Areas marked as a yellow zone by the municipality.
Location of parking zones. In the case of applications to build public parking facilities or lots in residential areas, where the need for such activity is evident; the Municipality, after a feasibility study, shall issue a criterion for the approval or denial of land use, as well as for the number of spaces arranged.
Number of spaces and design standards. For each establishment or institution, the values defined by this regulation shall be used, but in no case may they be less than those expressed in the design and operation standards defined by the Regulation for the Regulation of Public Parking of the MOPT.
Design requirements. Public and private parking zones must comply with each of the following requirements:
- Space dimensions: The minimum dimension of the parking space for small and medium vehicles shall be two meters and fifty centimeters wide by five meters long.
- Special spaces: A total of 10% of the spaces must be designated for parking vehicles driven by or transporting persons with disabilities, with a minimum of two spaces in any case. These shall have a minimum width of three meters and fifty centimeters by five meters long.
These must be duly signposted, both vertically and horizontally. They must be located near the entrance to premises or public service areas, in groups of two.
- Turning radii: Internal roadways shall be designed with a minimum turning radius of five meters.
- Accesses: In no zone shall parking accesses be permitted less than fifteen meters from the corner. On corner lots, it shall be located on the least congested road. The minimum access width is three meters for a single direction of travel, doubling if it has two-way traffic. The front gardens (antejardines) stipulated in the road layout must be respected. In addition, there must be a clearly identified free strip of one and a half meters wide for pedestrian exit.
- Roadway width: the minimum internal roadway width shall be governed depending on the direction of the road and the angle of the parking spaces with respect to these roadways. The data are presented in the following table:
| Roadway Width | Road Direction | Angle |
|---|
| 3.50 | One-way | Parallel |
| 7.00 | Two-way | Parallel |
| 3.50 | One-way | 30° |
| 3.50 | One-way | 45° |
| 4.50 | One-way | 60° |
| 5.50 | Two-way | 90° |
- Stops: all parking fields must have stops fifteen centimeters high and sufficiently resistant to prevent vehicle rolling. They must be marked with yellow color.
- Lighting: All parking lots must have artificial lighting, mainly at their entrance and exit. Minimum lighting levels of 2 lux must be maintained at all times.
- Ventilation: In the case of underground parking facilities, natural ventilation must be provided by means of at least two ventilation ducts at opposite ends of the building, in its largest dimension.
- Signage: Both entrances and exits must be clearly marked; the exit must be signposted by means of horizontal and vertical signage. Any existing safety equipment or measure shall also be signposted.
Necessary infrastructure. For public parking zones, because they are not part of a facility or premises, they must possess the necessary infrastructure to provide adequate service. The minimum infrastructure is presented below:
- Sanitary services: At least one men's bathroom and one women's bathroom, clearly identified and for public service, in addition they must be usable by persons with disabilities. Other aspects relating to sanitary services shall be regulated by the Ministry of Health.
- Control booth: The control booth shall have a customer service area, no less than five square meters, sheltered from wind and rain. Emergency equipment must be maintained, including extinguishers and materials for primary emergency care.
- Front garden strip (antejardín). In parking facilities, the front garden strip is required the same as for constructions.
Frontal parking. For the construction of frontal parking spaces, a maximum width corresponding to two-thirds (2/3) of the lot frontage and no less than 3 meters (3 m) shall be permitted, keeping the rest as green zone, the latter protected by some physical barrier that clearly prevents its use as parking.
When the number of spaces, with minimum dimensions of 2.5 m X 6 m, is greater than three, groups must be formed separated from each other by green zones of at least 1.5 m.
In the case of a new construction, the parking spaces or groups of spaces must be included in the construction plans.
Under no circumstances is the use of sidewalk space for parking permitted. When the building exceeds 6 parking spaces, the entrance must be clearly indicated, which shall be no less than 1.5 m wide.
The separation between parking spaces and the sidewalk must be clearly marked, with a line painted on the pavement in white.
In the case of remodeling, or change from gardens to parking, the corresponding municipal construction permit must be requested, presenting an annotated sketch, with the exact location and signed by a responsible professional.
Parking for Buses, Public Transport Vehicles, and Heavy Vehicles Parking restrictions. Public transport vehicles shall have assigned parking zones within the urban center of the city of Grecia, both for buses at terminals and for taxis in defined zones. Heavy vehicles shall be prohibited from parking in the urban area of the city of Grecia. Public transport vehicles shall have parking restrictions in the following places:
- Zones with tickets: Parking is prohibited in zones requiring a ticket, as they are exclusively for longer periods than those of a public transport vehicle.
- Goods loading and unloading zones: On-street parking is prohibited in commercial zones, defined as a goods loading and unloading zone, when it is not carried out for these purposes by cargo taxis.
- Entrance to establishments: Parking is prohibited in accesses to parking zones or in accesses to private garages. Likewise, parking on sidewalks is prohibited.
- Yellow zones: Areas marked as a yellow zone by the municipality.
- Residential zones: Prolonged parking, of more than four hours, of public transport vehicles or heavy vehicles, and buses in residential zones on public roads is prohibited.
Location of parking zones. Bus parking zones are defined by the terminal zones in the Regulatory Plan, as are the facilities for heavy vehicle parking. To define any other zone for these activities, the corresponding feasibility study must be submitted to the Municipality for its analysis and approval.
Number of spaces and design standards. For the design of taxi parking zones, the regulations corresponding to light vehicles shall apply. In the case of buses, these must be designed with the parameters presented in the design of bus terminals. In the case of facilities for heavy transport, the preliminary project must be submitted to the Municipality and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. In any case, these facilities cannot be frontal parking; only the design of parking zones is permitted, where there must be at least one entrance and one exit to enter.
Design requirements. For public and private parking zones that encompass parking zones for buses and heavy vehicles, each of the following requirements must be met:
- Space dimensions: The minimum dimension of the parking space for public transport and heavy vehicles must allow the vehicles it will serve to park comfortably, and allow the transit of people between them. There must be at least one and a half meters between vehicles for pedestrian passage. The design of the distribution of spaces and access roadways must be submitted to the Municipality and approved, in addition to the endorsement of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
- Turning radii: Internal roadways shall be designed with a turning radius that will depend on the equipment. Therefore, a reference must be presented showing the necessary turning radius for the most problematic vehicles that will enter the parking area. The reference may be from the manufacturer or associated bibliography. This turning radius shall be used for the design of the internal road layout of the parking area.
- Accesses: In no zone shall parking accesses be permitted less than thirty meters from the corner. On corner lots, it shall be located on the least congested road, but one that presents an adequate width for the necessary vehicle turn. The minimum access width is five meters for a single direction of travel, doubling if it has two-way traffic. In addition, there must be a clearly identified free strip of one and a half meters wide for pedestrian exit.
- Stops: All parking fields must have stops twenty centimeters high and sufficiently resistant to prevent vehicle rolling. They must be marked with yellow color.
- Lighting: All parking lots must have artificial lighting, mainly at their entrance and exit. Minimum lighting levels of 2 lux must be maintained at all times.
- Ventilation: In the case of underground parking facilities, natural ventilation must be provided by means of at least two ventilation ducts at opposite ends of the building, in its largest dimension.
- Signage: Both entrances and exits must be clearly marked; the exit must be signposted by means of horizontal and vertical signage. Any existing safety equipment or measure shall also be signposted.
Necessary infrastructure: For public or private parking zones for buses as facilities (as long as they are not bus terminals, but parking zones), they must possess the minimum infrastructure presented below:
Sanitary services. At least one men's bathroom and one women's bathroom, clearly identified and for public service, in addition they must be usable by persons with disabilities. Other aspects relating to sanitary services shall be regulated by the Ministry of Health.
Control booth. There must be a control booth where safety equipment and administrative material can be kept. Emergency equipment must be maintained, including extinguishers and materials for primary emergency care.
Frontal parking. The development of frontal parking for buses, heavy vehicles, and minibuses (busetas) over 8 meters in length is prohibited. Frontal parking for minibuses (busetas) shall be permitted in tourist, commercial, and institutional zones.
Pedestrian Pathways
Pedestrian Infrastructure Definition. Those that shall serve exclusively or preferentially to channel pedestrian flows.
Design. These pathways, depending on their location and the magnitude of pedestrian flows, must provide the possibility of making pedestrian journeys under cover and have the corresponding urban furniture.
Pedestrian Paths (Senderos peatonales) Definition. Those pathways that shall serve exclusively for pedestrian transit. These pathways, depending on their location and the magnitude of pedestrian flows, must provide the possibility of making pedestrian journeys.
Location. Their provision shall be solely and exclusively in areas for park use, children's playgrounds, commercial use areas, communal areas, or as arranged in the road plan. In exceptional cases and only in the rural area of the canton, they shall be admissible as sole access for dwelling fronts or residential-use properties, provided that the spatial conditions do not permit another road solution.
Right-of-way. They shall have a minimum right-of-way of six meters and a roadway of at least two meters. In cases of location within public areas, the right-of-way requirement does not apply.
Steep terrain. On steep terrain, steps must be used, where these shall have a minimum tread of forty centimeters and a minimum riser of twelve centimeters. No more than ten continuous steps may be placed without providing a resting area at least one meter long. Handrails and alternative routes for persons with disabilities must be included.
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS